Racism in Myanmar

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Racism in Myanmar has been an issue for centuries in Myanmar, however, there has been very few laws to define about discrimination. Myanmar is not a signatory of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Internal conflict

See also: Internal conflict in Myanmar

In 2017, an Australian woman with her Bangladeshi husband had criticized Myanmar authorities for its racial segregation over her husband when he worked in Myanmar.

State racism

It's believed that the government of Myanmar has openly sponsored the racist sentiment. The growing advance of technological development allows racial segregation to be more open in Myanmar. The difficult lives of many Burmese, a result endured from previous colonialism to subsequent closure from the world by the junta, has led to increased racial discrimination in Myanmar.

Ethnic minorities

Muslim minorities

Bayinnaung, after conquering Pegu (present-day Bago), banned Islamic ritual slaughter, thereby prohibiting Muslims from consuming halal meals of goats and chicken. He also banned Eid al-Adha and Qurbani, regarding killing animals in the name of religion as a cruel custom. In 17th century, Muslims living in Arakan were massacred by Sandathudama over personal dispute. The chief leader, Shah Shuja, managed to survive. King Alaungpaya (1752–1760) prohibited Muslims from practicing the Islamic method of slaughtering cattle.

During the British rule, many Indian Muslims were sent to Burma, which caused social uproar and hostility. The anti-Indian riots of 1930 were sparked by a labour issue at the Yangon port which led to massacre of Indian Muslim workers. Many Burmese were killed by the British authorities aftermath. In response, many Burmese sided with Japan at the World War II against its fellow Muslims, attacking both ethnic Panthays, Kameins, Rohingyas due to its support for Britain.

Since 21st century, racism against Muslim minorities increased, and was often followed by violence. The destruction of Buddha of Bamiyan in Afghanistan by Taliban had led to a wave of demanding closure and anti-Muslim rhetorics, which led to crackdown en-masse. In 2010s, anti-Muslim unrest has often led with casualties and population displacement. The Rohingyas of Rakhine, for instance, have been stripped of citizenship following Myanmar nationality law by Ne Win in 1982. The government classifies Rohingyas as Bengalis.

Rohingyas are also being seen as dark-skinned, fueled more discrimination. This is also not only Rohingyas, but also affected other Muslim people like the Panthays and Kameins, with lesser disadvantage.

Christian minorities

The Karens, Kachins and Chins are both minorities of Christian faith in Myanmar. Prior to the 20th century, these people were not the main interests of Burmese government, as the Burmese sought to implement a pluralist approach. However, the conversion to Christianity by these people following the British conquest of Burma had led to a sense of expression for distinct identities. Racism against ethnic Christian minorities began, most notably against Kachins, Karens and Chins, which was further exacerbated by Burmese support for Japan in World War II and when Christian minorities backed the British against Japanese.

Growing violence and the anti-Karen policy by the Burmese government further escalated sectarian tensions. The Kachins joined anti-Burmese insurgency following the collapse of the civilian government and were targeted by the Burmese government. Peace efforts have been mostly futile. The Chin people, a relatively close relative of the Kachin and also majority Christians, have also been recently targeted by Myanmar and have been harassed for their open expression of their Chin identity.

Many Kachins have long been afraid they could not be allowed to return because of potent nationalism and racism against Kachins sponsored by Burmese government. Simultaneously, Karens also hold significant hostile opinions on the Bamars and the Burmese government for what they perceived as the race card policy.

Other minorities

Shan people and other ethnic people in the Shan states (Chinese, Palaung, Wa) faced immense persecution since the establishment of modern Burma, but became intensified when the civilian government collapsed in 1962. The other ethnic people also face open discrimination by the state for its opposition to the government. Atrocities are common in the region.

The Rakhines in Myanmar living mostly in modern Rakhine State, and, like majority of ethnic Bamars, are Buddhists. However, they has developed an open enmity not just against the Bamars but also against the Rohingyas. Arakanese revanchism often clashes with Rohingya and Burmese nationalism as part of the intensifying ethnic clashes and further driven discrimination to be uncontrollable.

The Mons have also developed an open enmity, and are a target of Burmese discrimination and chauvinism, with Myanmar also aiming to permanently Burmanize the Mon minority. Mons were forced to join the Tatmadaw and in rare case, there have been casualties.

Chinese and Indian minorities were also subjects of persecution, partly due to British rule that encouraged Indian and Chinese migration. Anti-Indian sentiment ran between demanding of assimilation to expulsion of Indians. Burmese Chinese were a much smaller migrant group, and it was not until 1960s that anti-Chinese sentiment began to rise, notably the 1967 anti-Chinese riots in Myanmar which led to the exodus of ethnic Chinese; nonetheless, anti-Chinese unrest also happened during the British rule.

See also

• Burmese nationalism

References

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